Climate Change Impact Observed in My Local Community: Water Scarcity and Climate Variability in Gaborone Botswana
Firstly, the most pressing climate change impacts currently affecting Gaborone is persistent water scarcity and variability in water availability. Recent reports show that Gaborone Dam, the primary water source for the city, remained at critically low levels in early 2025 despite some rainfall, reflecting a recurring pattern of low dam inflows and high demand.
Officials have attributed these low levels to rainfall variability, increasing demand from a growing urban population, and longer dry periods, which are all consistent with climate change-related disruptions to weather patterns.
In addition, water shortages have been further exacerbated by electricity outages that disrupt pumping and treatment infrastructure, leaving many residents without water for days at a time.
1. The specific challenges this issue present?
a. Water Access and Daily Life
Low dam levels mean limited water supply to households, often resulting in interruptions and low water pressure. This affects drinking water availability, hygiene, cooking, and cleaning.
b. Infrastructure and Service Delivery
Frequent power outages disrupt water treatment and pumping systems, compounding the scarcity problem.
c. Increased Household and Economic Stress
With rapid population growth and expanding urban areas, demand continues to outpace supply, pressuring municipal services and increasing costs for water delivery.
D. Environmental and Health Risks
Water scarcity contributes to inadequate sanitation and increases the likelihood of pollution and disease outbreaks. In national discussions, water shortfalls are linked to broader risks, including climate-sensitive health impacts like waterborne illnesses.
2. How climate change interacts with human factors
The situation in Gaborone shows how natural climate variability interacts with human pressures:
Climate change alters rainfall patterns and increases evaporation, reducing how much water enters and stays in reservoirs.
Rapid urban growth and demand expansion increase strain on limited supplies and infrastructure.
Infrastructure weaknesses (e.g., power outages affecting water treatment) worsen the practical effects of these climate stresses.
Thus, while drought and variable rainfall are natural phenomena, human-induced climate change and urbanization significantly amplify water insecurity.
3. How the community and government have responded so far
a. Government Strategies and Policy Initiatives
The Ministry of Water and Human Settlement has warned about growing water deficits, projecting that the deficit could increase significantly by 2035 if not addressed.
National climate planning documents include a National Drought Management Plan and a National Water Conservation and Demand Management Strategy, aimed at building resilience and sustainable water systems.
National climate vulnerability assessments show that health and water sectors are priority areas for adaptation, linking climate change to policy planning.
b. Local and Technical Approaches
Treated wastewater is being reused for horticulture and landscaping in some areas, reducing demand on potable water. This kind of water recycling approach helps ease stress on supplies.
There are broader calls by leaders (including Botswana’s president) for risk-based water planning and investment in long-term water security and climate adaptation measures.
c. Community and Household Responses
Households are increasingly adopting water conservation practices, including rainwater harvesting, fixing leaks, and using water more efficiently. While not always officially documented, such practices are widely promoted in water-saving campaigns.
4. Broader Climate Context
In addition to water scarcity, Botswana including around Gaborone has experienced extreme rainfall and flooding events, such as the February 2025 floods that disrupted communities and infrastructure. These events illustrate the double burden of climate change: not only drought and scarcity but also increasing variability and extreme weather.
Conclusion
In Gaborone, climate change is already affecting the local environment and everyday life. Water scarcity driven by changing rainfall, reservoir depletion, and rising demand has tangible impacts on households, services, and public health. While the government and communities are taking steps from policy strategies to water recycling and conservation long-term adaptation and resilient infrastructure planning remain critical to reduce the growing water stress in the city.